Mortgage exec resigns following $3M sexual harassment lawsuit

Greg Englesbe resigned as CEO of New Jersey lender E Mortgage Management after a jury awarded $3 million to a woman who accused Englesbe of injuring her when he grabbed and forcibly kissed her at a Philadelphia restaurant.

EMM President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Crichton Daily will assume responsibilities of the CEO position, as well as continue to be responsible for the Cherry Hill, N.J., company's managerial operations, according to a press release.

Englesbe had been the president of the privately-held retail, consumer direct and wholesale lender since 2012. His resignation was effective June 26.

A former server at an upscale Philadelphia restaurant brought the lawsuit against Englesbe following an alleged incident in a hallway between her, Englesbe and two other men in October 2016, according to a report by Philly.com.

"You've been walking by me all night, and I want a kiss," said Englesbe, according to court documents cited in the report. Then he grabbed the woman, spun her around and forcibly kissed her, documents said. Next, one of the other men leaned in and said, "Now it's my turn."

The woman said that the incident resulted in nerve damage from a torn rotator cuff. According to court papers, Englesbe admitted to the kiss and accepted blame for harming the woman, but said he didn't believe his actions could have led to such extensive injuries, Philly.com reported. The woman's legal team told the website it anticipates Englesbe will appeal.

Englesbe's resignation comes amid the #MeToo movement that has brought heightened awareness and scrutiny of sexual harassment in both personal and professional settings.

Recently, Mike Cagney resigned as CEO of SoFi following allegations the company's workplace was hostile to women. Social Finance Executive Chairman Tom Hutton was named interim CEO, followed by the hiring of Anthony Noto as a permanent replacement. Cagney has later resurfaced at Figure, a home equity loan startup.

Earlier this year, NMN's parent company, SourceMedia, surveyed executives about sexual harassment across a range of white-collar industries, including banking, wealth management, health care and capital markets.

The unprecedented study, "Sexual Harassment in the Professional Workplace," found 63% of women and 51% of men have personally experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, witnessed it happening or are aware of someone else who has experienced it.